Spotlight on Seth Gross

September 19, 2017

Welcome to ‘Spotlight on’, a quick-fire round of Q&A where we get to meet the people who make CloudSense tick.

It’s a fast, (relatively) fun way to learn a little bit more about CloudSense’s people – from what makes them want to come to work every day – to the meal they’d pick before they met their maker on death row.

Today we get to know a man who has worn many different hats at CloudSense, Solution Architect, Seth Gross.

Name, Position & CloudSense Office:

Seth Gross, Solution Architect, Colorado Springs USA

What do you do at CloudSense on a day to day basis?

On a day to day basis, I try and focus on a few key areas:

Solution architecture and design for client projects

Assuring client engagement successes

Mentorship of team members in the North American region

Support of the sales teams when necessary

How long have you worked here?

I’ve been with CloudSense for 2 years

What was your background before joining?

Before joining CloudSense I served as a Solution Architect primarily focused on the telecommunications industry for a variety of differing products. To date, I’ve participated in client engagements across approximately 20 telcos.

What’s your favorite thing about the CloudSense office?

My favorite thing about the CloudSense office is that we get to dictate our own office culture. If there is anything that isn’t working, everyone is empowered to suggest improvements. Drinks after work, Great! Bring your dog to the office day, sure, let’s give it a try.

When was your best day at CloudSense and why?

My best day at CloudSense was when we opened the Colorado Springs office. It signaled growth in the region, a commitment from the company towards the future, as well as welcoming many new CloudSense team members.

Describe a ‘CloudSense person’ in 3 words…

Critical Thinker – When given a challenge, they rise to meet it with innovative approaches. They are also willing to learn where necessary to solve problems.

Proactive – A CloudSense team member will actively look for ways to help others and projects. They don’t need to wait for someone to solicit feedback or support from them.

Talented – Every CloudSense person that I’ve engaged with brings unique skills that help drive success across the business. Sometimes that manifests itself as technical aptitude while others have a knack for selling or management.

What makes you want to come to work every day?

There’s not a single day that’s the same, and we are small enough that we are often asked to wear many different hats. In my brief stint at CloudSense, I performed duties of an Architect, Tester, Developer, Project Manager, Office Manager, Mentor, Business Analyst, Handyman, IT support, Client Manager, Hiring Manager, etc. It keeps the job fresh and me on my toes.

If you could switch jobs with anyone else at CloudSense, whose job would you have?

I would likely combine aspects of Jonathan Weber (Services Director) and Srdjan Matijevic’s (Head of Architecture) roles to be able to mentor our internal team members as well as ensuring client success through innovative solutions.

Where do you see CloudSense in 5 years’ time?

I see CloudSense delivering robust innovation in the product space while substantially growing market share across the globe due to our many previous successes.

Where’s your hometown?

I was born in Colorado and have lived in Colorado Springs for about 25 years. I consider it my hometown.

Where’s your favorite place in the world?

I’ve traveled the world and have the ability to live anywhere I choose, but Colorado is still my favorite place. It boasts amazing weather, great people, active lifestyle, relatively low cost of living, and there are so many fun activities to do in the mountains. It’s one of the reasons that we chose to headquarter North American Services here.

What’s your favorite book?

The Count of Monte Cristo.

And favorite film?

Braveheart.

What would be your desert island DVD box set?

Even though I’m not caught up, I would probably go with Game of Thrones series.

What’s your guilty pleasure?

Cheap office pranks. The last one saw a few coworkers attempting to give verbal commands to the new microwave bearing a “Genius Sensor” label.

If you could have a superpower, what would it be?

I would have the ability to stop time and move through it. One could accomplish so much.

What would your death row meal be?

I would probably mix a variety of cuisines from various travels that just aren’t available here (or in prison):

Xiao Long Bao
Shabu Shabu
Albondigas
Picahna
Rösti

Who would you invite to your dream dinner party?

Friends and family with special guests: Warren Buffet, Elon Musk, Bill Gates. All titans of industry with a desire to improve humanity.

Who would play you in the film of your life?

I’d have to go with Tom Hanks, but he’d have to up his game for that role.

If you were guaranteed to be successful in a different profession, what would you do?

I’d open an innovation center geared towards helping talented youth achieve interesting ideas. Sort of like a makerspace with individualized curriculums using the latest technologies and tools.